By Jun Enriquez (see video below)
Iligan
City – Simple but meaningful ceremonial event commemorated the 2017 National
Heroes day, August 28, 2017, at the Freedom park, city public plaza this city,
organized by the local government of Iligan City in cooperation with the Armed
Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP) and different
National government line agencies.
The MSU-IIT Kalimulan Dance Troupe |
Giving
more colors to the event were the entertainments of the Buhanginan voices, selected
government employees for the Iligan March and the cultural dance of the Kalimulan
Dance troupe of the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology
(MSU-IIT), 21-gun salute by the military. Guests and participants attended during
the celebration were the Local Public officials and employees of the Iligan
City government, Barangay officials, Military and Police, Coast Guards,
Non-government organizations (NGOs), among others.
Also present
during the event were Iligan City Vice Mayor Jemar L. Vera Cruz; Col. Alex Aduca,
Commander of the 4th Mechanized Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army;
and PSSUPT Leony Roy Ga, City Director, Iligan City Police Office (ICPO).
Atty.
Dexter Ray Sumaoy, City Administrator of the Iligan City Government in his welcome
message paid tribute to the new heroes, the soldiers who fought and sacrifice
their lives just to make sure people can sleep well. He also appreciated the social
workers, volunteers, benefactors of local and national agencies, and all those
who sacrifice their time, sweat and efforts to serve the Internally displaced
persons (IDPs) in and outside the evacuation centers who were victims of the
Marawi crisis, considering the sharing of the culture of others.
Atty. Dexter Ray Sumaoy |
Sumaoy said the
IDPs who are victims of the terroristic acts feel the discomfort in the
evacuation centers foothold not to contribute to the terrorists and their
comrades, neighbors, friends or relatives is a sign of sacrifice of embracing peace. He
said the Iliganons pay respect to protect Iligan given the sanctity to the course
of freedom, independence and peace is always a challenge.
Iligan
City Councilor, Atty. Demy Plando also expressed his appreciation to the living
heroes especially the Overseas Filipino workers (OFW) in one way or another
contributed a big help to our beloved country in terms economic stability for sending remittances out of their salaries for the sustenance to the needs of their
families. Plando said he is sponsoring a local ordinance for financial
assistance to help local applicants abroad with an amount of 20,000 to 40,000
pesos to be used for the processing of their applications to unemployment problem.
The invited Guest Speaker during the event was Brigadier Gen William A. Alunday, AFP, Commander of the 2nd Mechanized Infantry "Magbalantay" Brigade, Philippine Army, based in Ma. Cristina, Iligan city. In his
message, “the commemoration for the Special day for our heroes who offered
sacrifices to our motherland or homeland, enjoy the freedom to live the liberty
of progress.” He urged everyone enjoins to help realize the fast
changing environment benefiting the pursuit of progress and
prosperity.
City councilor Datu Rolando Soong with Gen Alunday |
Alunday
said “the success of our heroes will not be wasted to the succeeding
generations and enjoy the economic advantage in the access of resources on
environmentally safe, to sustain the balance of production and fair distribution
of opportunities and generates employment.”
The
government workers to include the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine
National Police (PNP), and other security agencies, including the local chief
executives are mandated by the people and the state of integrated efforts for
the transformation of the environment to produce positive results for progress
and prosperity.
Alunday
said there must be a balance of the economy and environment to prevent unfavorable
impact like what happened in Syria and lately in Marawi City. He said they obey constitutional mandate to secure the sovereignty and constituency with strong
coordination of the members of the security sector. He said Peace and order must always
prevail. There are threats from terrorism and terrorist groups substantiated
with transnational crimes to create problem.
Given
the taxes from the people, the government has effectively performed their
duties to provide services in a form of education, health, infrastructure among
others for development, characterized by sensitivities of different cultures and faiths, and guarantee
the quality of life.
Alunday
said “there is a need the support of everybody because we cannot solve the
social problem by combatting alone. Love of country must continue to be done what
our heroes started.”
Iligan
City Mayor Celso G. Regencia in his message said there are people critical to
the President, Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte, which is he is only doing his
job especially the fight against illegal
drugs, criminalities and terrorism.
The Marawi
crisis to date had at least 134 soldiers killed in action, at least 40
personnel from the Philippine National Police (PNP) died and at least 1,341
soldiers wounded. Mayor Regencia said they are the new heroes of today. He had
hope that the Marawi crisis will be ended soonest time so that the evacuees
can go back to their respective places to end their sufferings.
Regencia
said “in today’s National heroes day celebration is a manifestation that we owe
to our great grandparents for sacrificing their lives for the freedom that we
enjoy at present.” He added “our soldiers sacrificed their lives in the fight
against the enemy of the state so that we can sleep well at night.” Checkpoints
were created for the safety and security of the people. It is enough to show
support from the constituents to keep up the moral of the military and police to
continue their fight against criminality and terrorism.
Regencia
said the local government of Iligan City always committed its all-out support
to the military and police in fighting the Maute and ISIS in Marawi city. The terrorists wanted to
discredit the government to kill civilians but the government will not stop to
crush them out. He urged finally the people should unite to defeat the evil
prevail peace. Photos & Video by Jun Enriquez; with reports by Joan Eslit.
Video file: Entertainment songs rendered by Buhanginan voices and cultural dances by the MSU-IIT Kalimulan dance troupe.